A Leeds brother and sister attacked a woman with a broken wine bottle as she walked through a street.
Deborah Thompson, 32, and her brother Stephen Thompson, 43, were among a group who set upon the woman as she walked through a pedestrian area on Rosebank Road, Leeds on June 17 this year. Leeds Crown Court heard on Monday how she was approached by the group who began shouting at her about drugs.
His Honour Judge Singh said that the woman recognised Stephen Thompson, of Vesper Place, and heard other names being shouted. He said the pair then began to attack her, with repeated attacks towards her head before she "pulled out a bladed implement" which then injured Deborah Thompson, of Brownhill Terrace in Harehills.
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The judge said: "These were not defensive injuries and were no doubt as a result of [the victim] wishing to defend herself." The court heard the attack continued and others encouraged it by telling them to "kill her."
During the assault, Deborah Thompson - who appeared in court via a video link from HMP New Hall - wrapped her legs around the woman's neck to choke her and Stephen Thompson pulled out a broken wine bottle and hit the woman around the head with it. Judge Singh said when the woman sat up, she saw Deborah Thompson again asking for drugs.
The woman was left with a number of injuries including lumps and cuts to her thumb and was struggling to breathe. The Thompson siblings were interviewed and denied any involvement in the attack, but later pleaded guilty to violent disorder at an adjourned plea, trial and preparation hearing.
Mitigating for Stephen Thompson, who appeared via video link from Leeds Prison, Joseph Hudson told the court he suffers with his mental health, which served as background to the offending.
For Deborah Thompson, Nathan Davis told the court she has since lost custody of all five of her children - her youngest being just 36-weeks-old. He said: "The offence was out of character for her. There are no offences of use of a weapon and not an offence of this kind. She has a history of inquisitive-style offending relating to her history of substance misuse."
Mr Davis said Deborah Thompson had lived through a violent upbringing and two relationships involving domestic violence and was looking at ways to cope with her anxiety and depression.
Judge Singh said he did not accept the submission that Deborah Thompson's behaviour was out of character as she had previous convictions for offences such as assaulting a police officer, threatening and abusive behaviour, assault and racially aggravated battery. Her brother has previous convictions for offences including robbery, grievous bodily harm, perverting the course of justice and possession of a bladed article.
Deborah Thompson was jailed for two years, and Stephen Thompson for 21 months. The judge told them: "You will serve half of your sentence in custody before being released on licence. If you breach the terms of that licence you will be brought back before the courts." He made them the subject of a five-year restraining order in favour of their victim.
As they said their goodbyes over the video link, Deborah Thompson told her brother: "Love you bro," to which he replied: "I love you too, take it easy."
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